Tobacco can



Patented Nov. itl),

bathed? EMERY B. COLSON AND HOSEA. CLINTON (iB/EEN, OF HUTGHINSON, KANSAS.

TOBACCO CAN.

Application filed November 21, 1923. Serial No. 676,107.

T0 all whom t may oon/cern.

Be it known that we, EMERY B. CorisoN and Hosea CLrN'roN GREEN, citizens of the United States, residingl at Hutchinson, in the county of Reno and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful limprovements in rFobacco Cans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tobacco cans and has particular reference to cans of this kind, wherein provision is made for maintaining the tobacco or contents thereof moist and fresh.

rlfhe primary object of the invention is to provide a tobacco can having a cover provided with novel and efficient means of a simple nature for maintaining the tobacco within the can in a fresh and moist condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for readily replenishing the supply of moisture without requiring removal of the cover from the can.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tobacco can covering havingan absorbent sheet arranged within the top thereof and associated with means which may be readily manipulated from time to time for supplying additional moisture to said absorbent sheet.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described. shown in the accompanying drawing, and claimed.

ln the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tobacco can 4constructed in accordance with the present invention.

l Figure 2 is a fragmentary substantially central vertical sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the can cover, as the same appears prior to engagement of the prongs thereof with the absorbent sheet, and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 as the cover appears after engagement of the prongs with the absorbent sheet.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates the usual open top body of a tobacco can that may be of any desired or an endless bead 6 near the upper edge there of to form af stop engaged by the flange .7 of the closure cap or lid 8 that is slipped onto the top of the body 5, as shown in F igure 2.

ln accordance with the present invention, the cap 8 is constructed of sheet metal and has a plurality of spaced spurs 9 struck downwardly or inwardly therefrom at points adjacent the margin of the same as shown clearly in Figure 1. An absorbent sheet or blotter 10 is arranged within the cap or cover 8 in contact with the under or inner surface of the top wall of said cap and cover and substantially completely covering` Vsaid surface, the prongs 9 being projected through the absorbent sheet 10 and clinched onto the under side of the absorbent sheet as shown clearly in Figures 2 and i for retaining said sheet in position. In this manner, the absorbent sheet covers the openings left. by punching the prongs 9 from the top wall of the closure or cap.

rlhe top wall of the cover or cap is provided with a central flared neck 11 within which is positioned a sponge 12, which, in practice, is adapted to be soaked with water and placed upon the portion of the absorbent sheet within the lower portion of the neck 11 as shown in Figure 2, whereby the moisture from said sponge will be transmitted to the absorbent sheet 10 for maintaining the contents of the can body in a fresh and moist condition. The upper end of the neck 11 is closed by means of a cork or stopper 13, also of tapered form, and which may be readily removed for permitting removal of the sponge 12 whenever it is desired to replenish the moisture in said sponge. Thus, the supply of moisture to the sheet 10 may be replenished without necessitating removal of the cover or cap 8 of the can. In the initial use of the device, the stopper 13 is merely placed in the neck 11 sun'iciently tight to permit its ready accidental displacementk from the neck, and the moisture may be subsequently squeezed from the sponge to be taken up by the absorbent sheet 10, by further forcing the stopper 13 into'the neck 11.

lVhile we have shown and described, the cover 8 as being of the removable slip on type, it is obvious that the same may be of theghinged typegor sliding type Without invention as claimed.

YVhat ,WeI glenn y,as new 1s:

departing from the spirit and seopeof the In tobaeeo Cun, ii cover having an absorbent sheet secured against and covering substantially the ent-ire under surface thereof, said eoverhztvingzttop `Well pro'- vided with a neck through which a portionV of' the absorbent sheetfis eXpQseldQa oom-V pressible moisture"retaining element Within lthevneek upon-the exposed 'portion of the absorbent sheet, a relnoyable `closure for the sneek positionedleboxge said moisture reta-ining element, theV means for securing the absorbent sheet against vthe under surface .0f .theerer somprsipem pltrality. oi margnal downwardlyI` directed tongues struck ,from the top of the cover and projecting through and clinched against the under sur- .'t'uce of. the absorbent sheet'. 

